Growing up one of my favourite Choruses was Wide. Wide as the Ocean. Not because of any deep religious meaning about God’s love for us. In doing the actions it gave a chance to legitimately hit the person on either side. I was going to use this but then Karen reminded me of a song from her youth (Hymn number 66) and I think many will remember this.
When a knight won his spurs in the stories of old He was gentle and brave he was gallant and bold With a shield on his arm and a lance in his hand, For God and for valour, he rode through the land.
No charger have I, and no sword by my side, Yet still to adventure and battle I ride; Though back into storyland giants have fled,
And the knights are no more and the dragons are dead.
Let faith be my shield and let joy be my steed, ‘Gainst the dragons of anger the ogres of greed; And let me set free with the sword of my youth, From the castle of darkness the power of the truth.
(Jan Struther)
This is a very visual song and its often dismissed as just a Children’s hymn. But the message is a powerful one the last verse is very much one of holding to basic Christian truths, to oppose anger and greed, to be set free by the Gospel and to defeat darkness with the truth of Jesus. It is a Prayer for Action. It reminds me of Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians Ch 6 : 10 – 17.
But here are the words of Wide, Wide as the Ocean.
Wide, wide as the ocean, high as the heaven above; Deep, deep as the deepest sea is my Saviour’s love. I, though so unworthy, still am a child of His care;
For His Word teaches me that His love reaches me everywhere.
Which songs did you sing as children? Have a look at the words – many of them are lovely, if simple prayers
One more step along the world I go I am the Lord of the Dance
Trust and obey
Jesus loves me this I know
I’ve got that joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart
Why not sing them again or hum them and reclaim that simple faith and joy?